This is a very dishonest company This is a very dishonest company. I did not know they still owned the phone. And then when the location feature wasn’t working they wouldn’t help, just kept passing the buck saying it was Google that we needed to contact. I could not even get an actual person at a Google to help me, it’s computer generated stuff that was I credibly unhelpful. When I told Bark I either needed the location feature to work or else I needed to disconnect the phone they insisted location isn’t really very important. Sorry, but they don’t get to decide for me what is & isn’t important. When I tried to ask for help in their Facebook group they blocked me. When I demanded that they turn off the phone they turned it off, but refuses to return the unused portion for the month. We hadn’t even used it for one week yet they kept the amount paid for the whole month. And then we had to return the phone (because apparently they still own it even though they don’t tell you that anywhere until you terminate service) & even though we hadn’t even used the phone they looked & said the screen was scratched & they charged us $59 for that lie. The whole thing is such a scam & they are so dishonest & sleazy. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY.

Bark.us I recently came across Bark.us, a platform that claims to help parents monitor their children's online activities to ensure their safety. While the concept behind Bark.us is promising, I can't help but feel that they are missing out on a significant opportunity to assist agencies in keeping kids in residential care safe. As someone who works closely with such agencies, I find their current offerings falling short in addressing the unique challenges faced by these establishments. Bark.us primarily targets parents who want to monitor their children's online interactions, which is undoubtedly important. However, there is a glaring gap when it comes to helping agencies responsible for the care of children in group homes, foster care, or other residential settings. These agencies have a critical need for tools that can help them ensure the safety and well-being of the children under their watch, especially in today's digital age. The missed opportunity lies in the fact that Bark.us could have extended its services to cater to the specific needs of these agencies. Children in residential care are often vulnerable and can be at a higher risk of exposure to online dangers, just like any other child. In fact, the risks might even be amplified due to their circumstances. The agencies responsible for these children need robust tools that can effectively monitor online activities, detect signs of cyberbullying, harassment, or grooming, and intervene to prevent potential harm. Bark.us could have explored features such as: Customizable Alerts for Agencies: Agencies could receive alerts tailored to their unique concerns, enabling them to quickly respond to any potentially harmful situations. Comprehensive Reporting for Accountability: Detailed reports could assist agencies in keeping track of online interactions and demonstrating their efforts to ensure child safety to regulatory bodies. Collaborative Monitoring: A system that allows both agency staff and assigned caregivers to stay informed about a child's online presence would foster a holistic approach to child protection. Integration with Reporting Channels: Direct integration with appropriate authorities or helpline services could streamline the process of reporting any suspicious or dangerous activities. Training and Resources: Offer guidance and resources to agency staff on identifying online risks and implementing best practices for digital safety in a residential care setting. It's disappointing to see that Bark.us has not ventured into this realm. By targeting agencies responsible for children's residential care, Bark.us could have positioned itself as a comprehensive solution for child safety in various contexts. This missed opportunity not only affects the potential growth of Bark.us but also raises concerns about the platform's commitment to the broader goal of child protection. In conclusion, while Bark.us has a valuable concept for monitoring children's online activities, they are missing out on a lucrative opportunity to extend their services to agencies in charge of kids in residential care. The potential to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children is significant, and I hope Bark.us reevaluates their offerings to include these underserved areas of child safety.

Impossible to Cancel - Misleading Billing Practices I purchased a device with Bark parental control software pre-installed, but soon realized the extremely intrusive monitoring was not suitable for my needs as an adult user with Autism. When I attempted to cancel service through their website and app, I encountered constant runaround and deception from Bark representatives. No matter how many times I clicked "cancel account", Bark would claim there was a "technical issue" preventing cancellation and that I needed to contact support for help. When contacting support via email and phone, I was given circular explanations that made no sense and seemed intentionally confusing. Even after explicitly stating I wished to cancel service multiple times, Bark continued to bill my credit card monthly fees. When I disputed the charges, they tried claiming the recurring payments were somehow not under their control despite being the service provider. I filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau detailing Bark's misleading cancellation practices and inability to process a standard request to stop services. Other online reviews show I am one of many dealing with similar deceit from Bark when trying to end the account relationship. Unless major changes are made to simplify and properly respect cancellation requests from users, I cannot recommend Bark's parental control software due to their unethical business operations focused on stringing customers along rather than honoring basic consumer rights. Proceed with extreme caution or select an alternative provider.

I cancelled my account October 2023 I cancelled my account October 2023. In December I was charged for a year (106.00) after canceling my account. I disputed with my credit card. I called and sent many emails. No one can help me. I am going to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

Terrible Time The phone never worked the way advertised, couldn’t get anyone to fix it for months. Returned it and was still charged $125 and $59 repair fee. The phone that I sent back was in good condition, there was nothing wrong with it. The pictures they sent looked like the phone had been sanded with sandpaper. We did not do that. I didn’t realize I was leasing a phone. It was advertised as “free” when I signed up. It took over a mo for them to agree to refund my $125 but they are keeping the $59. What’s odd to me is they charged my acct $59 on 7/14 so they did receive the phone so why am I having to beg for a refund a mo later on a charge that should never have happened in the first place? This company is highly questionable.